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Ranjit Thakur
Doda, November 17
Enthusiasm prevailed during the first phase of elections in the panchyat elections in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district with a record 81 per cent polling, wherein aged voters dominated the polling stations.
Madho Lal, who is 105 years old, made it to a polling station without any hindrance and cast his vote with the expectation that his candidate would facilitate developmental works in their area which got delayed due the absence of panchayat committees. His nephew Chuni Lal said, “At the age of 105, my uncle is still physically fit. He was a beekeeper before Independence and later turned to farming. He always wanted that youth should lead from the front and also cast his vote in ward number 3 of Gandoh to a young and educated candidate of his panchyat.”
Shafiqa Begum, (85) polled her vote amid rush and chilling weather conditions with the hope that this democratic process, after a gap of three years, will once again address the burning needs of this remote area of Gandoh.
Defying boycott calls, militant threats and harsh weather conditions, people of twin districts of Doda and Kishtwar cast their votes in Bhallessa, Chilli-Pingal, Jakyas, Changa blocks of Doda and Marwah, Warwan, Bongwah, Dachan and Padder blocks of Kishtwar in large numbers on Saturday.
The polling began in Doda and Kishtwar amid high security at 8 am and continued till 2 pm. No untoward incident was reported in any polling station. In Kishtwar, 77 per cent polling was recorded.
An aggregate of 79.18 per cent voters cast their franchise in Bhallessa block, 79.67 per cent in Changa block, 84.33 per cent in Jakyas block and 82.62 per cent in Chilly Pingal block of Doda. In Kishtwar, 61.40 per cent polling was witnessed in Marwah, 78.81 per cent in Warwan, 66.90 per cent in Dachhan, 79.33 per cent in Paddar and 86.69 per cent in Bunjwah.
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